The Federal Government could restart water buybacks to meet Murray-Darling Basin Plan targets. 

Reports say the Federal Government is looking to purchase water through open, competitive, and transparent tender in six catchments across Queensland and New South Wales. 

The new buybacks will help the government achieve the “bridging the gap” water target, which aims to return 2,075 gigalitres in flows each year for the environment. 

The buyback is controversial with some irrigators, who argue that previous purchases have hurt farmers, especially those in the dairy and rice industries. 

The South Australian government has expressed concerns that the Murray-Darling Basin Plan’s extra 450 gigalitres to flow downstream each year starting mid-next year will not be achieved, and that the plan is being resisted by Victoria and New South Wales. 

Water Minister Tanya Plibersek says that no decision has been made, but buybacks would be contemplated to achieve the 450 gigalitres target too. 

The recovery of the extra 450 gigalitres in flows is contingent on it causing no economic harm to communities. 

A report commissioned by Victoria's government has warned that if buybacks are used to achieve the extra flow, it could lead to over $500 million in lost agricultural production in the southern basin each year.